One foodie's take on every meal

Author: bckirk
(page 1 of 6)

Before leaving the STL I had time to hit an old favorite, Sugarfire BBQ, now with a location downtown. I’ve never had anything here other than the phenomenal staples of brisket and ribs.

But in keeping with Lent, it seemed like the perfect time to try the highly regarded portobello mushroom sandwich.

What a delicious, hearty meal, reinvigorating my meatless juices and the knowledge that yes, you can take a serious break from meat without sacrificing flavor and culinary excitement.

First off, it was huge, with a toasted middle bun. The two round, thick mushrooms were large enough to cover the entire bun and were dripping with juices and a smoky BBQ flavor, a signature of great BBQ.

Add the pickles covered in the house special sauce, melted cheddar cheese, lettuce and grilled onions, and you’ve got a fantastic sandwich I’d order anytime.

The augratin-style potatoes were solid but I like their fries more, which my buddy Jake got to compliment his ribs.

Well friends and loyal followers, after taking a long break to get my groove back, I’m back. And I’m bringing my new titanium hip and healthy appetite with me. Tonight I find myself spending the evening at the Marriott Grand in lovely downtown St Louie..

In the spirit of trying to keep up with a meatless Greek Lent, I went with the tuna and avocado tartar. It was fantastic. Larger than I expected with a perfect ratio of light dipping chips to tuna. The last chip hosted the last chunk of fresh red tuna and creamy avocado. We all know the sad feeling of finishing the appetizer with half the chips still left. Not tonight in downtown St Louis.

The Caesar salad was fresh and flavorful, with crunchy croutons and a half dozen anchovies packing a zesty but not overpowering punch.

I’m in Cleveland this week and came across a wonderful little fast casual restaurant specializing in Indian.

For those who haven’t given Indian food the chance it deserves, this place would undoubtedly change your mind. Suburban Cleveland is the first location for Choolaah and I can only hope that new spots opening soon in Pittsburgh and Fairfax portend huge things to come.

Watch out Chipotle, Panera and fast fired pizza concepts. This place could pass all ya’ll.

Well here I am back in one of my favorite cities. The Minneapolis food scene NEVER disappoints. There are so many hot and popular restaurant choices and tonight I settled on Hola Arepa.

Their menu has over a dozen options celebrating the arepa, Latin cornmeal cakes filled with meat, cheese and other ingredients.

I got the Chimichurri Chicken which included tomatoes, Chimichurri sauce, greens and aioli verde. All the flavors worked so well together but the most amazing part of this meal were the freshly cooked arepa griddle cakes which create the sandwich. Along with the yuca fries, the sandwich was absolutely bursting with flavor.

My friend Jordan got the Cuban arepa which looked phenomenal. I’d love to go back and try this one next. A great vibe both in the restaurant, at its bar made out of what looked like reclaimed wood, and several tables outside.

Hola Arepa is a perfect example of what’s so great about the Minneapolis food scene. Delicious, thoughtfully created dishes playing on the staples of a centuries-old cuisine, in a lively and fun setting.

Working in Louisville this week but all work and no play makes Billy a dull boy. Nothing dull about this bad boy at The Mussel and Burger Bar.

I’m a sucker for Gruyere so even with the multitude of well thought out burger creations I jumped all over the C.E.O. burger. It was bursting with flavors, succulent and juicy with great quality beef cooked perfectly at medium temp. One of the best burgers I’ve had in recent memory.

The food truck scene continues to be one of the nicest culinary experiences Chicago has to offer, especially for those who work downtown.

I got to experience Yum Dum food truck’s offerings this week and it was just as good as I had heard.

I tried several truck specialities, including the chicken and pork steamed dumplings, the Korean chili chicken baowich and crispy shrimp baowich, and the best of them all, the Kimcheesy rice ball. I’d search this truck out just for the rice balls.

It’s official..Minneapolis is one great restaurant city. After having the chance to sample several creative and unique menus, I now see why some our calling this the hottest new restaurant town in the U.S.

No other restaurant exemplifies the spirit of the city’s gastronomic identity better than GYST Fermentation Bar in the city’s Whittier neighborhood. From its peanut butter and cabbage kimchi to its motherboard of cheeses, meats, olives and fermented vegetables, sisters and owners Ki and Mel Guse also feature wines from family run vineyards they discovered in France, Slovenia and the Black Sea Republic of Georgia.

Fermentation isn’t an experiment. We eat fermented foods every day..bread, cheese, yoghurt, chocolate, beer, coffee to name a few.